Breakfast For Your Soul

Friday, January 30, 2009

 
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

[ Galatians 5:1]

Time to Clean House

Good Morning Beloved,

Happy Friday!

Remember the little nursery song:

Clean-up, clean-up
Everybody get some toys.
Clean-up, clean-up
All the little girls and boys.
Clean-up, clean-up
Everybody do your share.
Clean-up, clean-up
Everybody, everywhere.

It is a good place to start as we’re taking inventory of our situation.  Identifying the areas in our lives that need a little ‘tidying up’.  Cleaning up our act so to speak.  Spiritually (that is the first order of business).  Jesus bought our freedom with His own blood.  He placed us in right standing with Almighty God and now we are sons and daughters of God.  We have so many options, but with choices come greater responsibilities.  We are endowed with the power of God by His Spirit, we are loved by God, we have been cleansed by God … we are ready.  We have been given the tools we need to live successful Godly lives, and now we have work to do… internally and externally.  Sitting at the feet of Jesus and soaking in His Word, and then putting into practice what I’ve learned is working on the inside.  Now, I am on the hunt for the excessive, and unecessary in my life on the outside.  Little faith, time, energy and money stealers that must be firmly dealt with.  I am looking over bills, in order to trim the fat off of them.  I noticed a charge on one bill that I don’t even remember agreeing to…. it will be cut.  What is not being used, has got to go.  Clothes not worn, unused stuff, clutter…. gotta go, gotta go, gotta go.  It is amazing how suffocating a cluttered life is.  I watched a talk show many years ago, where the guests had been very wealthy at one time, but gave their money away.  They established foundations and lived simply.  Why?  The wealth had become overwhelming, and they no longer wanted to deal with it.  Now, that has never been my issue, but clutter has.  We are a sentimental family that has a tendency to hold on to things. We are getting better.  I’ve found if it doesn’t come into the house, we don’t have to worry about getting rid of it later.  We have chosen items and services that we really want, and those that we can live without… gotta go… gotta go… gotta go!….. ahhhhhh… freedom….

… that my friend is Good News!

“Shackles”, Mary Mary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRayKxgePQI

“My Soul Is Anchored”, Trin-n-tee 5:7

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XOGD9M3Ox0

Don’t Worry -Matthew 6:26,27 12 of 109   It can be easy to let yourself fall into the trap of worrying about money. We must learn to trust that God will take care of us, and provide for us, just as He takes care of the birds

Dynamite -Mark 11:22 13 of 109   The power of God can remove any obstacle that is preventing you from getting to where God wants you to be. Our faith allows God to release His power in our lives, to remove the mountains in our way.

Don’t Open That Door -Genesis 4:7 14 of 109   Temptation may seem harmless, but it will lead to sin, which is not harmless at all. If we confess our sin, we will be forgiven (I John 1:9), but that doesn’t mean that we will escape all of the consequences for our sin. January 20, 2007

Friday, December 12, 2008

The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and His disciples were also invited to the celebration. The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told Him, “They have no more wine.” “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”  But His mother told the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”  [John 2:1-5]

“Celebration”

Happy Friday!   

Nothing like a good celebration.  I find it interesting that the very first public miracle that Jesus performed was at a wedding celebration. Turning water into wine().  A wine so good that,

“When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over.  “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”

Somehow, somewhere along the way in the history of the church, Gods’ people became viewed as dry, lifeless, no smiling creatures with no joy.  Fun was a ‘dirty’ word… having a good time synonymous with doing something wrong, and dancing was strictly frowned upon.  If anybody should have joy it should be those who serve a God as wonderful as our God.  Balance.. Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is a time a place for everything … Focus… years ago, I was attending a service where the minister asked everyone to take out a dime.  He told us to hold the dime up in front of us.  In the broad scope of our vision the dime did not take up much space, but when we moved the dime closer to our eyes our whole perspective changed until the dime was all that would could see.  That is how life is at times.  Something or someone can fill our vision to the point we can’t see anything beyond it.  I believe that is the reason many people commit suicide or generally check out of life… either mentally or emotionally.  They could not see or imagine life beyond where there were. Breakthroughs are happening constantly… don’t miss yours. The bible assures you that if you seek God… you will find Him….. Enjoy today.

Some Assembly Required -Proverbs 3:5,6     Life is complicated, and it can be hard to fit all of the pieces together. The Bible is our instruction manual from God for how to put our lives in order. December 7, 2008

(a Father/son dance-this is a video you don’t see everyday )

Friday, October 17, 2008

Good Morning Beloved,

Happy Friday! 

We’re hearing a lot about change lately……. change takes some getting used to, however change can be not only good, but vital to our growth, well being and development.  The most crucial change is accepting God’s love gift and allowing Him to change us from the inside out.  We are to be reflections of God… we are after all made in His image and after His likeness.  The closer we get to God, the more of His fragrance we take on…. like hugging someone that smells really good…it sticks to you right?  In the same way, if we get too close to something that stinks…. we’ll stink too.  Having said that, God is able to take stinky situations, use them for His Glory and make something sweet come out of them.

…. and that is Good News!

Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.

2 Corinthians 2:15

U Blessed

Have A Fabulous Day and a Wonderful Weekend!

Regina

 Tamela Mann “Step Aside” from the stageplay What’s Done In The Dark…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaG-2z1M-dc

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My cousin Diane sent this email to me and it really spoke to me:

STOP!

Oh Lord, help me not to cuss anybody out today
Freeze my tongue, if somebody gets in my way
Fill me with Your grace, so that I might stay cool
I‘m trying to do right, but I ain’t nobody’s fool
Cause me to humble myself, before I get fired
Even a saint like me sometimes gets tired

Praise your name, because You’ve saved me, many times before

Cartoonist’s Comment:

Jesus said in John 6:36 “I am the bread of life”. It is up to the believers to take the Bread of Life (Jesus) out of the Bakery (the church building), to where the hungry people are. After eating “Satan’s Garbage”, the aroma of the Bread of Life will certainly smell good.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

(Hebrews 12:1)

After coming home from a rehearsal, I was amazed at how good I felt.  I was amazed because the folks conducting the rehearsal– saved and wonderful as they are– showed little mercy to us! It is a rather large production, and we are moving at breakneck speed. Everyone starts out with an exercise routine lead by very young, energetic, and enthusiastic teenagers.  They do not seem to notice that most of us are…shall we say.. a little over 21, with a little more to love around our hips .  They did forewarn us at the beginning, so we knew what was coming, but knowing it’s coming and actually being in the midst of it …. two entirely different things.  I have hurt in places I can’t name…. don’t even know what it’s called…didn’t know it existed!  LOL!… but I am so enjoying this experience.  Do I like pain?  HA!   No… I’m the biggest chicken there is when it comes to pain, but the discomfort I feel is not as great as the benefits I am gaining.  I FEEL better.  I have so much more energy, my clothes are fitting looser, and I don’t feel as tired as I did before.  Spiritually, I feel as though weight (pun intended) has been lifted off of me.  What affects your spirit, affects your physical body and vice versa.  Jesus has invited us to “cast all of our care to Him, because He cares for us”.  We are admonished to “lay aside every weight and the sin that does so easily beset us” (Hebrews 12:1).  Casting and laying aside seem easy.. on paper.  When we are in the middle of actually doing it, that is when it becomes difficult.  Change is difficult.  Funny how easy it is to fall into patterns of behavior that do not benefit us at best, and can be deadly to us at worst.  Going places we know we shouldn’t be going.  It could be an old friend or relative’s house that we know is an area of weakness for us.  Change.  Reverse course.  It may be uncomfortable … for a season.  But the power, peace and favor gained will more than make up for it in the end.

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Cartoonist’s Comment:

Satan’s lies can seem scary, but they are no match for the truth of God, found in His Word.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Good Morning Beloved,

Tomorrow we celebrate Independence Day …America’s “Birthday”.  It started me thinking of freedom and liberation.  Freedom of a nation…. freedom of a people…. freedom of an individual.  Even in 2008, freedom is a foreign concept to many.  They have no idea what it is like to speak out against injustice, and not be beaten, arrested, tortured or killed.  In 2008 there are people being bought and sold into slavery.  Children sold, maimed and killed.  We are blessed.  Freedom.  Freedom has a cost, and comes with great responsibility, but it is our most valuable treasure. Our responsibility at the very least should be…. appreciation.  Many of our children cannot truly appreciate our freedom, because they do not personally know of anything different.  When I was in school, we were inundated with books, and films that taught of our history.  We learned that we live in a free society, that it was not always the way that it is now, and that while not perfect, our nation has come a long way.  Even in this age of mass media.  People are detached … as though, while they see what is happening in other places, it does not affect them or their lifestyle.  The images shown are like watching another reality television show.  I really appreciate being free today.  I appreciate all those who gave up their freedom, and even their very lives, so that I could live and be free.  Remember this…

Have a Fabulous Day and a Safe and Happy 4th!

Regina

Cartoonist’s Comment:

I don’t know if anyone ever really escaped from a prison by smuggling in a file hidden inside a cake. But it makes a good illustration of how when we share the Gospel with people, we are giving them the means to their own escape from sin and death.